Results from HUC -8 Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Map for US FWS Region 3
Dates
Start Date
2019-12-01
End Date
2020-01-31
Citation
Delaney, J.T., and Bouska, K.L., 2021, Model Inputs: Midwest Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9AL7GZM.
Summary
In order to better understand the combined impacts of climate change and spatially identify where changes are anticipated to be most extreme, we developed a climate change vulnerability map for the Midwest Region. The vulnerability map is watershed-based (Hydrologic Unit Code-8) and combines fifteen climate change indicators evenly divided into three categories: temperature, precipitation, and hydrology that were selected by resource managers working in Region 3 of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The projected change in each of these indicators from the baseline period (1986-2005) to the future period (2040-2059) was aggregated into a composite score for each watershed. Landscape-scale metrics reflective of a watershed’s [...]
Summary
In order to better understand the combined impacts of climate change and spatially identify where changes are anticipated to be most extreme, we developed a climate change vulnerability map for the Midwest Region. The vulnerability map is watershed-based (Hydrologic Unit Code-8) and combines fifteen climate change indicators evenly divided into three categories: temperature, precipitation, and hydrology that were selected by resource managers working in Region 3 of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The projected change in each of these indicators from the baseline period (1986-2005) to the future period (2040-2059) was aggregated into a composite score for each watershed. Landscape-scale metrics reflective of a watershed’s adaptive capacity were combined with the climate change impact indicators to produce a vulnerability score. We found sub-regional variation in vulnerability to climate change with the greatest vulnerability in Iowa, central Illinois, and northwest Ohio. Greater potential impact was seen in the higher emissions scenario resource concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 compared to the lower emissions scenario RCP 4.5, but similar spatial vulnerabilities were identified between the two emissions scenarios. By quantifying and mapping hotspots of climate change vulnerability, resource managers can use climate impact information to adjust adaptation strategies and identify areas of prioritization accordingly.
This geospatial climate change vulnerability assessment was created for the USFWS Region 3 to aid in climate change communication and adaptation planning.
